Beautiful englishwomen serving in AUXILIARY TERRITORIAL SERVICE will blast nazis out of the sky

An ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) ‘spotter’ at a 3.7-inch anti-aircraft gun site in Britain, December 1942. On her shoulder can be seen the badge of the 1st Anti-Aircraft Division, which controlled the searchlight and gun batteries defending London.

The ATS was established in September 1938, to provide for women volunteers to serve in non-combatant roles alongside the military. In 1941 it was fully incorporated into the British armed forces. As the war progressed conscription was introduced, and duties expanded from cooks, clerks, and drivers to more varied and technical roles. The ATS reached a peak strength of 210,208 officers and other ranks in June 1943.

(Caption and photo courtesy of the Imperial War Museum)

Winston Churchill’s daughter, Mary, served on an Anti-Aircraft battery during parts of the war.

THE AUXILIARY TERRITORIAL SERVICE AT AN ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN SITE IN BRITAIN, DECEMBER 1942 (TR 474) ATS girls operating the height and range finder.

ROLE OF THE ATS in WARTIME GREAT BRITAIN:

“The role of the ATS was clearly summarised in one of their own advertisements:

“Auxiliary Territorial Service (for women). Non-combatant duties with military units. Motor driving, clerical and other services calling for energy and initiative”. (Autumn 1938)

The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) was formed in September 1938. The ATS was made up from three organisations – the Emergency Services, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and the Women’s Legion. All three were combined into one organisation known as the Women’s Auxiliary Defence Service, which was itself, absorbed into the Territorial Army.

Between 1941 and 1943, the ATS underwent major expansion. At the end of December 1943, there were 200,000 in the ATS with 6,000 officers taking part in more than 80 trades.

Elizabeth II as a Princess and motor mechanic in World War Two

WOMEN AT WAR 1939 – 1945 (TR 2835) Auxiliary Territorial Service: Princess Elizabeth, a 2nd Subaltern in the ATS, wearing overalls and standing in front of an L-plated truck. In the background is a medical lorry.

In 1944, the ATS received a boost when Princess Elizabeth joined. This was important to the ATS as to some, they were still a focus for ill-mannered comments.

While the first few years may have been somewhat chaotic, the need for manpower shortages to be reversed was such that the ATS fulfilled this vital role. To a few, the women in the ATS were “officers groundsheets” but to the large majority the ATS had proved their worth and value by the time the war in Europe ended.”

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Charles McCain is a Washington DC based freelance journalist and novelist. He is the author of "An Honorable German," a World War Two naval epic. You can read more of his work on his website:
http://charlesmccain.com/